Apparatus for separating dust from air and gases



July 25, 1933.

G. RAW

Filed Nov. 18. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 G. RAW

July 25, 1933.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING DUST FROM AIR AND GASES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 18, 1932 Patented July 25, 1933- UNITED STA Es" PATENT gorrlce GEoEe'E new, or EAvEnswoon, Low EEL ENGLAND'" APPARATUS Eon SEPARATING DUST FROM AIR AND GASES Applicationv filed November 18,1932, Serial No. 643,257, and in Great Britain November 16, 1931 i This invention comprises imPIOVQIDQDUS HI apparatus for separatingdust from air and gases and is particularl concerned with an 7 improved method of air cleaning or-dust collection in processes for pneumatic separation of dry divided materials. 7 -These processes have various applications in industry and one of these, to which the invention principally appertains is the dry separation of solid materials of different specific gravities such as the separation of coal from stone and of ores from their gangue.

In such processesthe materials are conveniently subjected to the action of air or other gaseous fluid upon so-called separating tab es, which may be given a reciprocatory or jigging motion, and in many cases considerable quantities "of dust arise from the tables which must lie-dealt with if'the separating plant is to operate under the best conditions and pollution of the surrounding atmosphere 'by'the dust isto be avoided.

The general practice in pneumatic coal cleaning processes has been to deal with. the

dust separately from and independently of the main air supply iior the separating tablesby leading it to mechanical or other separators from 'which discharged into the atmosphere; Proposals have been made, however, for dealing with dust by using closed circuit separating sys- I tems comprising a return circuit leading from the separators to the fan or the like supplying the separators with air and this different specific gravitiescomprises a dust return has been fitted with a dust collector.

This invention relates to a closed circuit systemand has for an object to provide improvements adapted to enhance theefiiciency and improve the conditions of operation of the separating plant while avoiding discharge of dust into the atmosphere.

According to this invention the plant for the pneumatic separation of materials of chamber above the separating table or deck, liquid atomizing devices delivering a mist into said chamber for causing coalescence of dust particles and' their return to the table or deck or to a delivery chute, a fan supply- 0 ing the table or deck with gaseousfluid and the closed circuit above referred to may comtion of residualydust, the remainder of the the cleaned air was value and as the shunted air is cleaned no a closed circuit for returning fluid/issuing from the table or deck tothe fan, this circuit belng provided with centrifugal means for removing part of the'air or gas returned tothen be made forthe supply ofan app'ropri- 0 ate amount o'f itresh' fluid to make up for that shunted or released from',the circuit. The cleaning operation on the shunted portion of the air may be performed by any suitable apparatus such as a'cyclone or centrifugal dust extractor. A second fan may be associated with the cleaningapparatus for the purpose of assisting the suction of air through such apparatus. The centrifugal means in prise a centrifugal blower for ldrawing air y from the dust chamber and the shuntedportion ofthe air led from this-blower being f advantageously led frbm the'peripheral side, where the airbears the heaviest concentra- 5 air-passing together with make-up. air to the fan supplying the tables. 1 I

The eoalescenceof dust particlcscomhi'ned with the shunting of'a part of the air from 30 the system, and theintroduction of fresh air v in its place, enables the concentration of dust in the air returned to the separating tables to be reducedto a very advantageous Working dischargeof dust into the atmosphere is {un volved. It'should be-noted that when dealing with large qi'lantities of airlandheavy con-- centrations ofdust it is very costlyand almost a impracticabl e with mechanical dust -collectors to clean the air completely because they havev not a suificiently high efficiency and therei fore in the systems at present in general use; wherethc'whole of theseparating air is discharged to the atmosphere it impossible to clean theair to a suitable degree to avoid a a j pollution of the surrounding atmosphere.

hand such devices are quite efiective and practicable When applied to relatively small volumes of 'air and relatively low dust concentIELtIOIISL Thus the minor portion of theair shunted out of the system in accordance With the present invention may be efiiciently cleaned so that no pollution of the atmosphere can occur while at the same time advantages of closed'circuit systems are retained and the shuntingof part 01 the air reduces the dust concentration.

Furthermore, a greater efliciency in the centrifugal. separators is obtained by reason.

' ,nection with. the process-forming the subject of my prior Patent No.'1,8l3,40 5 in which the separation is dependent upon operation of static pressure of the air in the bed of mater'ials. The lower dust concentration obtained brings the air intofavourable' condition for static pressure operation within the bed and l renders it possible to apply the closed circuit .system in connection with such process in a.

reliable and efficient manner While the very loivvair velocities associated with the static pressurcmethod make for low dust'concentration, thus permitting of the employment of a closed circuit. lVith higher velocities and higher dust concentrations the closed circuitcould not be so effectively operated. Fui thermore ivith the closely packed bed and largeair chamber used in the static method favourable conditions are obtained for the ready settlement of dust, which is essential .With closed circuits, as otherwise I the dust concentration is liable to aettoo'high for Working conditions. The large air chamber,

in Which static pressure fluctuations occur ini stead of high air flow, allows of rapid. settle- ;ment While the very close bed acts as a filter to separate out the bulk of the remaining dust The combination-is thusa very advantageousone'. I V V In order to enable the invention to be readilyv understood reference will be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate 60.

' amples for carrying the invention into effect more or less diagrammatically diii erent eX- in which drawings "Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation partly 1n SGCiZlOIlyOIE one embodimentof the inven- "tion'. 7 x

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic elevation partly in section of a modified embodiment. V Fig. 3 is a plan partly in section of Fig. 2, and I Fig. 4 is an elevation partly in another modification.

hetei 1mg to Fig.1,

section of The latter may be of any-conveni out construction for'e'iample, that described in my patent specification No. 1730947 and are arranged over an box orchamber c forming part of the'circuit. Above thetable is laden air-escapes. Mounted above the table in thechamher (Z are liquid atonuzing devices 0 for deliveringaliquid mist into the chamber as described in the specification of my prior The mist causes British Patent No. 336221. the dust particles to coalesce and to fall on to the table or into a discharge chute. The escapes from the upper partotthe dust chamber into adischarge pipe through branches g g, similarto those shown in Fig. 3, 1' other suitable arrangement waich is calculatednot to produce currents interfering with the static process; The pipe 7 is connected to thefan 7) so that the air. is maintained in closed circuit. If desired apertures or inspection openings h may be pro vided in the Walls oi the dust chamber above the table so that excess air may be drawn into the return part of the circuit in 0rd or to guard aqe'inst escape ofair at the discharge points of the table. Any {I ust remaining in the circulating; airmay collect'in some part or". the systenn e. the air chamberbelmvthc table,

from which it may be removed desired.

In addition thisdust may be separz cd or partly separate due to filtration by, the bed of materials on theseparating table a.

order to remove a part of the dust from the air or gas'fiowin g through the return circuit f, a part of it may be shunted discharged f om thesystem as indicate 'l 1' 1 Figure 1. Thus a portion oi the air is as shown is ot the cyclone or' centrifugal type although it may be any suitable apparatus for cleaning residual dust from the shunted air.

If desired the air may be drawn through the dust collector by means of a fan k havingxa delivery Z for the cleaned air to atmosphere. The dust is collected in the lower chute m of the dust collector j, and may be takenavvay as a separate product or be remixed with any of the products oi; the pneumatic separation. An intalrefiz may be provided adjacent the fan 72 for adm'itting n air through a valve -0 to the pipe to compensate for that released from the circuit at'Z. The supply fan I) is thus able to take in a correspondmg quantity of fresh air from the atmosphere to make up the total-quantity required. Thus the con-.

one or more separating tables care; arranged in a closed pneumatic circuit including a supply tan 7) for the table or tables.

a dust settling chamber Z into which dust-.

so I

shunted through a pipe to dust collector which centration can'be reduced to any desired; degree. The shuntedair is cleaned before pass ing to the atmosphere aiidas the quantity .is small compared with the total amount of'air used tor separation purposes, it is possibleto clean it by means of one ofthe more eflicient but more costly cleaning devices such as cen trifu'gal separators, cloth filters; electrical precipitators or air Washers which Will, in the circumstances related, entirely remove dust from the air. If a. cloth filter be used,

arrangement will be made to discharge the shunted air at a pressure suitable for the operation of the filter, which is usually quite low.

It is preferable that the portion ofthe air.

removed from the return circuit shall contain a large proportion ofthe dust as the returned air will consequently be cleaner and to this end centrifugal separating device may be inserted in the return circuit,'fo r instance in the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 1 and l'centrifugal blowers p are in this circuit. The arrangement and disposition of parts is advantageously such that the dust collector 7 receives the air from the )eri heral side'of the blower p as the air from this zone bears -*the heaviest concentration of the residual dust due to the centrifugal action of the blower. The elimination of this particular portion otthe air from the circuit would reduce the dust concentration in a greater degree than if the same amount Were taken from-some other point of the circuit. The relatively cleaner air passes from the inner side of the fan 7) to the supply tan b.

The employmentof' an additional tan pisof advantage when a pulsating pressure is used for the treatment of. the materials on the tables a, such fan enabling a steady streamof air tobe maintained" on the return side of the 3 tables. It isnot essential howeverto employ a plurality of fans under pulsating pressure conditions because when a plurality of separators is employed a single fan might be used if the pulsators otthe diflierentutables Were timed toopen in turn and 'thus maintain a relatively steady air flow. The number of fans used may, of course, be varied according to particular requirements.

, Suitable air controlling valves and inlet ports may be provided for adapting the fan or fans to varying requirements of duty and I for compensating for leakages of air. Thus aperturesh maybe provided in the dustchamber (Z' above the tables'as previously described so that a slightly greater quantity of may serve'as inspection openings'and may be provided with 'adjustablehingedor sliding covers or doors'r. 4

In the modified arrangements shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, a cleaning device If such as ajcen trifugal collector, isinserted in-the 'iiiain return duct 1 between'the dust chamber (land the fan I).

' It is to be understood that the shunti and associated cleaning mechanism and also in take a may be omitted ifdesired so that the circuit would then be completely closed.

It is to be noted that particular advantages The Whole of-thei'eturnng-air 15 passed through this cleaning device t before returning direct in closed circuit =15 to the table supply fan 6.

are obtained in the combinations.described, 1

when either or all of the cleaning devices and t which may be" included are centrifugal type separators. It is found in practice that very' much greater efliciency when dealing with dusts which are veryv slightly moist.

The moisture however mustnot be' sofg'reat as to'make the dust Wet, It Will-be real zed from the descriptions andxal'so from my prior British Patent 336.221 that the condition of the dust after it has been, treated in the dust chamber by the mist is such that it is ideal for the highly efiicient Working of the centrifugal collector. The benefit is obtained by either or all ofthe devices y', p and t according to which arrangement or combination is used. Themist treatment thus en-- liance v the value of the centrifugal collector" in addition to ,its' usefulness 'in combination with the closed circuit. v f

It will be realizedthatanumber of advantageous combinations are/available for use according-to the particular conditions and by the employment of" a suitable one, any

a "8 this type of dust separator operates'with a a condition of dustconcentration and volume can be satisfactorily met and very efiicient dust collection obtained.

1. Apparatus for cleaning dust-laden gaseous fluidin the pneumatic separation of materials of different specific gravities, comprising a. separating table,a fan supplying gaseous fluidto said table, a dust settling chamber above said table, liquid atomizing devices delivering a liquid mistinto said chamber to cause dust particles uprising from the table to coalesce and the larger coalesced particles to fall, apipe connected between said dust chamber and fan for returning gaseous fiuid from the dust chamber to the" fan, and a centrifugal. separator mounted in said pipe for separating a substantialportion of the dust from the gaseous fluid returned from the dust chamber.

2. Apparatus for cleaning dust-laden gaseous fluid in the pneumatic separation of ma terials of d fferent specific gravities', comprising a separat ng table, a fan for supplying gaseous fluid to said table, a dust settling chamber abovesaid table, liquid atonnz ng devices delivering a liquid mist lnto said chamber to cause dust particles uprising from the table to coalesce and the larger, coalesced particles-to fall, a pipe connected between said dust chamber and supply fan, a centrifug'al' collector interposed in said pipe for cleaning air returned from the dust chamber, a branch pipe on the return pipe on the return side of said collector, a centrifugal sepav rater for cleaning: air shunted through said branch pipe, an exhausting fan for wlth drawing an from the return pipe through said branch pipe and discharging it to atmosphere, I

return pipe connected between said dust" "chamber and said supply fan, a centrifugal. blower for exhausting air from the dust chamber a branch pipe leading-from theperipheral side of the centrifuqal blower and havin an inlet area in the return sine nora mal to thy di rectien of flowfa cleaning means for treating air-shunted through said brancn pine, and (v'ontrollable means for admitting fresh fluid to said return pipe.

4.. Apparatus for cleaning dust-laden gaseous fluid in the pneumatic separation 0f1na terials of different specific gravities comprising a separating table a fan supplying air to said table, a. dust settling chamber aboi ve'said table, liquid atomi'zing devices delivering a liquid mist into sald-ch'amber, a return-plpe connected between s ald dust chamber a'ndsaid supply fan, a centrifugal blower for exhaust in a r from the dust chambena branch plpe V leadingfrom-the peripheral side of the exhausting fan, a skimmer plate extending into the return pipe for directing the heavily dustladen peripheral portion of the air flow into the branch pipe, a cleaning means for treating; air shuntedthrough said branch pipe a fan for drawing air through said cleaning device and discharging it to atmosphere and means for admitting fresh air to said re turn pipe. v

Apparatus for cleaning dust-laden gasemus fluid-in the pneumatic separation of ma- .tc 'ial of different specific 'grravities compris ing; a separating table, a dustsettling. chamj her above the table liquid atomizing' means tor delivering; a liquid 'mist into said chamber to cause the dust particles to coalesce and the larger roalesc-ed partielesto fall, a fan supplyinggaseous fluid-to said table, a return connected between said dust chamber trating the dustcontent of the return flow todsaid ian means in said pipe for concenward one portion of the flow, an outlet con iieetion for drawing off the said portion. of,

the flow having; an inlet areain the return pip normal to the direction offlow in said ipe., neans for extracting the dust "from the gaseous flow drawn ofli, means for discharga controllable means for admitting fresh gaseous fluid to the system. I

- GEORGE RAWV.

the cleaned fluid from the system,, and 1 

